A Concise History of the Middle East, Ninth Edition

The ninth edition of this widely acclaimed text has been extensively revised to reflect the latest scholarship and the most recent events in the Middle East. As an introduction to the history of this turbulent region from the beginnings of Islam to the present day, the book is distinguished by its clear style, broad scope, and balanced treatment.

Inside the Kingdom

Saudi Arabia is a country defined by paradox: it sits atop some of the richest oil deposits in the world, and yet the country's roiling disaffection produced 16 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11. It is a modern state, driven by contemporary technology, and yet its powerful religious establishment would have its customs and practices rolled back to match those of the Prophet Muhammad over a thousand years ago.

Alicia G. says:"Very interesting."

Publisher's Summary

The UAE is situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia. The UAE is a federation of seven Emirates each with its own Ruler. Saudi Arabia's command economy is petroleum-based; roughly 75% of budget revenues and 90% of export earnings come from the oil industry.

Kuwait's economy is heavily dependent on oil revenues. The Kuwait government is keen on reducing the dependence on crude oil revenue. Bahrain is a small island with a population of just over 1 million people. Bahrain's total area covers 770 sq km; it is the smallest of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and consists of 33 islands.

The main source of Qatar's wealth is its vast reserves of oil and natural gas (it has the world's 3rd largest natural gas reserves) which have made it one of the richest countries in the world.

What Members Say

I have many business students from various of these countries, and I feel much better informed about the settings they are coming from. Of course, a book this short must be a summary, but I appreciate having a much better sense of the identities of these individual nations/emirates. It is certainly not "one size fits all."

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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